Rural mailbox signals



Feb. 11, 1969 N. w. LAY

RURAL MAILBOX SIGNALS Filed May 26, 1967 m R mW/ a A M Z wm fi United States Patent Office 3,426,965 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 3,426,966 RURAL MAILBOX SIGNALS Norman W. Lay, Warren-Sharon Road, Box 576, Vienna, Ohio 44473 Filed May 26, 1967, Ser. No. 641,623 US, Cl. 232-35 Int. Cl. B65d 91/00 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Preamble While there are a number of prior art devices which serve the same purpose as the present invention, such prior art devices have been deficient in a number of respects. For example, in some prior art devices, a flat member is dangled beneath the mailbox to provide visual indication that the mail carrier has opened the mailbox door. From a distance, however, and at certain angles, the flat member is virtually invisible. Thus, a quick glance is not always adequate to determine whether the carrier has passed. Moreover, prior art devices cannot always be relied upon to function properly, especially if the mailbox door is not fully opened by the carrier, since in most instances, the signaling member is required to slide from a predetermined position when the door is opened. As friction is an inherent factor in the sliding action of most prior art devices, such devices may well fail to function in the intended manner, especially if the mailbox door is not completely opened.

The present invention is virtually fool-proof in operation since the signaling member is released from its nonsignaling position by rolling rather than sliding action. Moreover, in signaling position, such member is freely visible from any angle. These and other advantages will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the appended drawing.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there are shown, for purpose of illustration, embodiments which the invention may assume, and in this drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the embodiment seen in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing certain parts in another position,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but of a somewhat modified structure.

Detailed description With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional rural mailbox having a main body portion 11 whose open end is normally closed by a door 12 pivoted at 13 to the main body. A spring catch 14 prevents unintentional opening of door 12. Attached to the lower portion of door 12, as by rivets 15, is a troughshaped support 16 whose mouth, in the position of parts shown, is directed upwardly. As herein shown, one side of support 16 is disposed in generally the same plane as the door 12. Adapted to be disposed in the support 16 is a cylindrical signaling member 17 which may be brightly colored for maximum visibility. Member 17 is adapted at one end to be secured to an end of a flexible member 18, such as a chain or cable, while the other end of the flexible member is suitable secured to the mailbox.

When the carrier opens the mailbox door to deposit mail therein as shown in FIGURE 3, the member 17 will roll out of the now tilted trough-like support 16 to depend from the flexible member 18 to signal that the carrier has opened the mailbox. After the box owner has removed the mail from the box, he will once again place the member 17 in the support 16 in preparation for the next stop by the carrier.

In the embodiment thus far described, the support 16 has been disclosed as riveted or otherwise secured to the lower portion of the door 12. While this arrangement is satisfactory when the invention is to be incorporated with existing designs of mailboxes, it may be desirable to initially make such support integral with the mailbox door.

As shown in FIGURE 4, wherein corresponding parts are identified by the same reference characters as before but with the suffix a appended, it will be noted that the lowerface of the door is lengthened an amount sufficient to provide the support 16a. Obviously, since the support 16a is integral with the door, the previously mentioned rivets are omitted.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. For use with a mailbox having a door connected thereto by means of a horizontal pivot whereby said door may be swung about said pivot from an upper position wherein it closes the opening into said box to a lower position wherein it provides access to the interior of said box, a J-shaped cradle with its stem extending from said door with its trough disposed horizontally and opening upwardly when said door is in upper position, a cylindrical body of a diameter to freely fit within said trough and lying horizontally therein when said door is in upper position, and an elongated flexible connection having one end attached to one end of said cylindrical body and its other end attached to said mailbox, said cradle being inverted when said door is in its lower position to permit said body to freely roll from said cradle and dangle vertically from said flexible connection to indicate that the door has been moved to its lower open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 260,951 7/ 1882 Cutler 211-691 821,440 5/ 1906 Smith 232-35 2,285,632 6/ 1942 Urbain 211-60 2,609,787 9/ 1952 Lawson 232-35 X 2,707,075 4/ 1955 Van Duzer 232-35 2,808,982 10/ 1957 Armstrong 232-35 2,856,123 10/1958 Mary 232-35 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

